Floor waxer and polisher



May 28, 1929- H. c. DQRNHECKER 1,715,060A

FLOOR WAXER AND POLISHER Filed March 50, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l 27 .w wif.. *f 5v May 2s, 19:29.A

H.. c; DORNHECKER 1,715,060

FLOOR WAXER AND POLISHER Filed March 50, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Juf Patented May 28, 1929.

entre stars TNT oFFlcE--- FLOOR WAXER AND POLISHER.

Application filed March 30, 1927. Serial No. 179,490.

The invention relates to devices for Waxing and polishing floors. A

The principal object of the invention, generally stated, is to provide a manually operable device adapted to be simply pushed back and forth over a floor and convertible for use in applying ivaX and subsequent employment for eecting rubbing thereof to impart the desired smooth surface and high luster to the floor.

An important object of the invention is to provide a device of this character in which the polishing or rubbing means is detachable from the remainder of the devicel so that the wax applying function may be carried out, the device possessing the advantage of combining two different tools in one.

Another object of the invention is to provide a floor treating device of this character provided with novel means for maintaining the rubbing or polishing member in operative relation to the main or Wax applyingr portion of the device, the parts cooperating and certain of them interiitting whereby displacement of t-he rubbing member' While in use will be avoided.

another important object of the invention vis to provide a floor treating device of the reservoir type and of such construction that A more specific object of the invention is provision of a device of this nature havi event more than the proper lquantity of Wax from being applied to the surface treated.

Still another object is to provide a vvaxer and polisher having means mounted on the upper stretch of the belt for positively preventing the Wax from passing beyond or over the edges thereof and getting onto the inner face of the belt vvith resultant gumming of the belt carrying rollers. y

Y et another object is to provide an apparatus of this type havingl means cooperating With the upper stretch of the belt and one of the rollers carrying the same for the puraging the belt and acting as a scraper to gravity operated means frictionally cn-l be simple and inexpensive to manufacture,V

easy to use, rapid andeiiicient in action, durable in service, and a` general improvement in the art. l

With the above andot-her objects and advantages in view, the invention preferably consists in the combination and arrangement of parts as Well as the detailed construction thereof to be hereinafter more fully vdescribed and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying 'drawings in which:

Figure l is a side'elevation of the complete devicewith the polishing member applied thereto,

Figure 2 is a top plan view,

Figure 3 is a plan view of the top of the polishing or rubbing member removed, y A

Figure 4L is a vertical longitudinal section taken on substantially the linea-4; of F igure v5,

Figure 5 is a horizontal section taken on substantially the line 5 5 of Figure 4,

Figure 6 is a vertical cross section taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 4t with the roller in elevation, and y Figure 7 is a vertical cross section on the line 7 7 of Figure 4 With the polishing member removed.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, l have shown the device as Vcon'iprising a preferably elongated rectangular hollow body l open at its bottom and having its'top closed by a Wall 2 provided With an opening 3 normally closed by a hinged door 4 mounted in some convenient manner. In the present instance the mounting is shown as consisting of arms 5 cast` upon the door and pivoted by rivets or the like 6 to apertured lugs 7 rising from' the top Wall 2. .The door-is also preferably; provided with a finger piece 8 by means of which it may be handled and swung to open or closed position. Inasmuchas the device is intended to be alternately pushed andpulled over the fioor or other surface to be treated, its top is preferably provided with spaced ears 9 between whichV ispivoted, at 1 0, a socket member'll .Within which is casing.

secured a suitable handle 12 of any desired or convenient length.

Extending transversely of the body and projecting slightly beyond the open bottom thereof are rollers 13 which are journally mounted and Which are here disclosed as rotatable upon stationary spindles. or bolts 111 which pass through the body as particularly illustrated in Figures 5 and 6. Trained about these rollers is an endless belt 15 of canvas or other suitable flexible material and which serves as the means for conveying Wax and applying it to the floor or other surface to Abe treated. The space within the top of n the casing and above the belt is intended for the storage of wax which is introduced through the opening 3 when the cover or door 4 is in open position and it is clear that when the device is drawn along the floor or other surface with the lower stretch of the belt contacting the same the movement of the belt will cause the wax to be applied to the floor in a manner to be hereinafter more fully explained.

To support and guide the upper stretch of the belt and prevent undue sagging thereof under the weight of the mass of wax within the casing, I preferably provide ledges or flanges 16 which may be formed integrally upon the sides of the casing, for instance by casting, and which project toward each other.

These ledges serve as supporting means for a slidablymounted wedge 17 which is disposed thereon and which has its thinner end adaptedfto engage and jam between the upper stretch of the belt and one of the rollers 13 for locking the parts and preventing movement of the belt or rotation of the rollers When the device is moved along the floor in one direction. To limit movement of the wedge member 17 away from the adjacentroller, I provide some suitable stops which may, in actual practice, be simply webs 1 8 beneath the ledges and formed on the sides of the casing, these webs being located in the path of movement of a cross-head like memv ber 19 here represented as secured to the underside of the wedge though equally capable of being formed integrally therewith if found advisable for any reason.

Tovprevent ex ess wax from being carried out of the device by the belt and applied to the floor, I preferably provide a gravity actuated scraper member 20 mounted forvertical sliding movement within one end of the Actually, this element may consist of a block of rather heavy material, preferably metal and to increase its frictional effect upon the belt it may be encased within a fabric or other flexible envelope 21. To avoid displacement of this member longitudinally of the'casing, I preferably employ an angular stop4 and' guide 22 mounted beneath the top Wall 2 as for instance by means of a screw 23, this membery also serving as a stop for limiting downward swinging movement of the door or cover 1. Clearly,any equivalent guide means for the block 2O might be provided, but this is a highly convenient arrangement.

During the course of experimentation and later in actual practice, I have found. that there is quite frequently a tendency of the wax to slip, drop or otherwise pass over the side edges of the upper stretch of the belt. If and when this occurs it is clear that wax will fall upon the top surface of the lower stretch and will be transferred therefrom to the rollers with the result that the rollers become gummed up. To avoid such a contingency, I have found it expedient to employ retaining means at the edges of the belt in overlapping relation thereto. Actually, such means may consist simply of a U-shaped frame-like member 24 formed conveniently from a suitable length of rod of substantial gaugev bent into the desired shape. This frame-like member is of such size as to fit comparatively snugly within the casing with its bightf portion disposed adjacent the scraper member 20 and with its arms projecting over and beyond the wedge member 1,7. Gravity is relied upon tohold this member in proper contact 'with the belt and it is of course clear that the arms of this member will act to prevent the wax from passing beyond the side edges of the belt.

It is well known that wax commonly used for polishing floors is in the form of a plastic mass and is generally put up in tin cans from which a handful is taken out as needed. Vhen this material .is used in my device one or more handfuls is simply placed upon the upper stretch of the belt. The mass has a certain amount of cohesion but as the vehicle or oily matter dries out, as it will in a comparatively short time, there is a tendency for the material to break up and crumble into' pieces of widely different sizes. It is on account of this crumblingr tendency that the U- shaped member is provided, the side arms 24 keeping this crumbled material from passing over the edges of the belt. Regardless of how small the pieces of wax may become, they will not pass over the roller 13 with which the wedge cooperates for the reason that the belt never moves in this direction but'always in the opposite direction tending to drag the wax under the member 20.

The polishing member preferably` comprises a brush indicated a whole by the numeral 25, this brush including a back 2G carrying Groups of bristle tufts 27. The back is preferably of the same length and width as the casing and is adapted to fit against the open bottom thereof, the top surface of the back being formed with partially cylindrical recesses 28 receiving the projecting portions of the rollers and the portion of the belt immediately engaging the rollers. The engagen'ient of the' rollers and belt within the Lib recesses will of course act to prevent shifting of the polishing member eitherlaterally or longitudinally with respect to the casing.

It of course becomes necessary to hold this polishing member to the casing, and an effective means for accomplishing this preferably comprises straps or other flexible members 29 suitably secured to the ends of the back 26 and carrying female snapv fastener elements 30 adapted to be engaged upon coacting male elements 3l secured upon the ends of the casing in any suitable manner as for instance by having their shanks 32 embedded therein during casting.

In orderA to avoid damaging baseboards and the legs or other parts of furniture during the use of the device it is preferable to provide a continuous felt or other similar yieldable buffer strip on the casing at its open end, and a similar strip 34: on the edges of the back 26 of the polishingr member.

nthe operation of the device, it is of course apparent that when it is intended to use it for applying waX to ailoor or other surface, the polishing member must be detached, this being readily accomplished simply by disengaging the fastener elements 30 -from the fastener elements 3l so that the polishing member may simply drop away or the remainder of the device lifted olf from it. vlax is placed within the casing through the opening in the top thereof. rlhe operator then sets the device upon the floor and it is of course obvious that it will rest upon thelower stretch of the belt and the rollers. lWhen the device is pushed along in one direction it is clear that the rollers 13 will be rotated and the belt. l moved. During the movement of the belt, it drags acertain amountof the wax supported upon it beneath the scraper member 2() and naturally applies this fax to the floor, the scraper member 2O acting to smooth off the waxfadhei'ing to the belt and thus preventing an excess quantity from being applied to Vthe floor. `When Vthe device is moved in the other direction, the drag of the upper stretch of the belt upon the wedge inember 17 will cause the latter to move toward the adjacent roller and jam between it and the belt, thus preventing movement'of t-he belt. `When the device is again moved in the firstdirection the wedge member shifts out ofengagement with the roller and the vbelt moves another step, the degree of movement of course depending upon the length Vof the stroke given to the entire device. rhere is consequently obtained a species of ratchetlike action which will result in application of ax upon one stroke and idle dragging of the device over the previous waxed spoton the reverse stroke. This reverse or idle stroke causesthe wax to be smoothed out and evenly distributed over the surface. i V

After the wax has been thus applied, and

it is desired to polish the surface, the operator applies the polishing member by engaging the back member 26 thereof .against the belt and rollers and by snapping the fasteners 30 onto the fasteners 3l. The Waxing mechanism thereupon becomes inactive as there is-nothing to move the belt or rollers, and the device is operated in the same manner as any othervpolisher by simply sliding it back and forth over the surface to be polished.

From the foregoing description and a study of the drawingsit will be ap parent that l have thus provided a simply constructed, inexpensive and very easily operated device for the purpose specified and one which will be of particular advantage in making it unnecessary for the operator to get down upon his hands and knees for the purpose of applying the wax as is generally the custom. The device not only saves labor and annoyance in this respect but applies the wax more smoothly and uniformly than .is easily possible by hand applic-ation. lt is really believed that the construction, operation and advantages will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art without further explanation.

While Ivhave shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention, it should be understood that the disclosure ismerely an exemplification of the principles involved as the right is reserved to make all such changes in the details of construction as will widen the field .of utility and increase the adaptability of the device provided such changesconstitute no departure from the spiritof the invention or the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

yHaving thus described the invention, I

claim:l p. l

l. In a lioor vvaXer and polisher, a casing, waxing means Within the casing embodying rollers and abelt, the lower stretch of the belt and portions of the rollers projecting beyond the bottom ofthe casing, and a polishing member including a brush disposable against the open bottom of the casing, and means carriedby said polishing member and detachably engageablewith the casing, said polishing member beingformed as a brush having a back formed with recesses receiving the projecting portions of therollers and the portions of the belt engaged thereagainst, said engagement acting to prevent lateral and longitudinal displacement of the polishing member with respect to the casing.

2. In a floor ivaxer and polisher, a casing, waxing means Within the casing embodying rollers anda belt, the lower stretch ofthe belt and portions of the rollers projecting beyond the bottom of the casing, and a pol.- ishing member including` a brush disposable against the open bottom of the casing, and

iie

means carried by said polishingmeinber and the projecting portions of the rollers andthe 4 immane@ portions of the belt engaged thereagainst, said engagement acting to prevent lateral and longitudinal displacement of the polishing member with respect to the casing, the securing means for the polishing member in cluding flexible elements thereon carrying separable fastener' elements and other separable fastener elements on the casing cooperating with the first mentioned separable fastener elements.

3. In a ioor waxer and polisher, a casing, waxing Ineans within the casing embodying rollers and a belt, the lower stretch of the belt and portions of the rollers projecting beyond the bottom of the casing, and a polishing member including a brush disposable against the open bottom of the casing, and means carried by said polishing member and detachably engageable with the casing, said polishing member being formed as a brush having a back formed with recesses receiving the projecting portions of the rollers and the portions of the belt engaged thereagainst, said engagement acting to prevent lateral and longitudinal displacement of the polishing member with respect to the casing, said polishing member having its side edges and ends flush with the sides and ends of the casing, the edges of the polishing member and the outside of the casing near the open bottom thereofl being provided with continuous buffer members of yieldable material extending thereabout.l

4. In a floor waxing device, a casing, rollers journaled Within said casing, a continuous belt trained about the rollers and having its lower stretch projecting beyond the bottom of the casing, the space within the casing above the belt serving as aV storage compartment for Wax, and a gravity'operated scraper member mounted for vertical movement within one end portion of the casing and resting upon the belt at one roller. l

5. In a iioor Waxing device, al casing, rollers journaled Within said casing, a continuous belt trained about the rollers and having its lower stretch projecting beyond the bottom of the casing, the space within the casing above the belt serving as a storage compartment for wax, a gravity operated scraper member mounted for vertical movement within one end portion of the casing and resting upon the belt at one roller, and guide means for said scraper member for preventing displacement thereof longitudinally of the casing and confining it to vertical movement.

1 6. Ina device of the character described, a casing having an open bottom, rollers journaled transversely of the casing, an endless belt trained about the rollers and projecting beyond the open bottom of the casing, and means carried by the upper stretch of the belt at the edges thereof to prevent Wax placed on the belt from passing beyond said edges.

7. In a device of the character described, a casing having an open bottom, rollers journaled transversely in the casing, an endless belt trained about the rollers and having its lower stretch projecting beyond said open bottom,l the upper stretch of the belt being adapted to support a mass of Wax, a gravity operated scraper member resting upon the upper stretch of the belt at one roller for preventing excess discharge of Wax, and a guide lug within the casing engaging said scraper.

8. Ina device of the character described, a casing having an open bottom, rollers journaled transversely in the casing, an endless belt trained about the rollers and having its lower stretch projecting beyond said open bottom, the upper stretch of the belt being adapted to support a mass of wax, and a gravity operated scraper member resting upon the upper stretch of the belt atone roller for preventing excess discharge of Wax, said scraper member being formed as a weight enclosed Within a flexible envelope.v

9. In a device of the character described, a casing having an open bottom, rollers journaled transversely in the casing, an endless belt trained about the rollers and having its lowerstretch project-ing beyond said open bottom, the upper stretch of the belt being adapted to support a. mass of wax, a gravity operated block-like scraper member resting upon the upper stretch of the belt at one roller for preventing excess discharge of wax, and a guide member depending from the top of the casing and engaging said scraper member to prevent displacement thereof longitudinalyly of the casing.

lO. In a device of the character described, a casing having an open bottom, rollers journaled transversely in the casing, an endless belt trained about the rollers and having its lower stretch projecting beyond said open LlA bottom, the upper stretch of the belt being adapted to support a mass of Wax, a gravity operated scraper member resting upon the upper stretch of the belt at one roller for preventing excess discharge of wax, a guide member depending from the top of the casing and engaging said scraper member to prevent displacement thereof longitudinally of the casing, the top of the casing having a hinged door, and said guide projecting beyond the door opening to serve as a stop limiting inward movement of the door.

11. In a device of the character described, a casing having an open bottom, rollers ournaled transversely in the casing, an endless belt trained'about the rollers and having its lower stretch projecting beyond said open bottom, the upper stretch of the belt being adapted to support a mass of wax, a gravity operated scraper ember resting upon the upper stretch of the'belt at oneroller for preventing excess discharge -of Wax, and a member mounted upon and gravitationally en- Cil lil)

gaging the upper stretch of the belt at the edges thereof to prevent the wax from passing over said edges.

12. In a device or" the character described, a casing having an open bottom, rollers ournaled transversely vin the easing, an endless belt trained about the rollers and having its lower stretch projecting beyond said open bottom, the upper stretch ot' the belt being adapted to support a mass ot wax, a gravity operated scraper member resting upon the upper lstretch or' the belt at one roller for preventing excess discharge of wax, and a retaining member carried upon and slidably engaging the upper stretch ot the belt and including portions located at the edges of the belt for preventing Wax Jfrom passing thereover.

13. In a device of the character described, a casing having an open bottom, rollers journaled transversely in the casing, an endless elt trained about the rollers and having its lower stretch projecting beyond said open bottom, the upper stretch of the belt being adapted to support a mass or' wax, a gravity operated scraper member resting upon the upper stretch of the belt at one roller for preventing excess discharge of wax, and a U- shaped retaining member resting upon the upper stretch of the belt with its bight portion disposed against said scraper member and its arms lying adjacent the sides ot the casing to cover the edges of the belt.

14. In a device of the character described, a casing having an open bottom, transverse rollers journaled in the casing, an endless belt trained about said rollers and having its lower stretch projecting beyond the open bottom of the casing, longitudinally extending guide ledges beneath the upper stretch oit the belt, and means movably mounted upon said guide ledges and cooperating with the upper stretch of the belt and one roller for preventing rotation of th-e rollers and movement of the belt when lthe device is moved in one direction.

l5. In a device ot' the character described, a casing having an open bottom, transverse rollers journaled in the casing, anA endless belt trained about said rollers and having its lower stretch projecting beyond the open bottom of the casing, longitudinally extending guide ledges beneath the upper stretch of the belt, and means movably mounted upon said guide ledges and cooperating with the upper stretch of the belt and one roller for preventing rotation of the rollers and movement of the belt when the device is moved in one dircction, said means comprising a wedge having its tapered end disposed toward the adjacent roller.

16. In a device of the character' described. a casing having an open bottom. transverse rollers journaled in the casing. an endless belt trained about said rollers and having its when the device is moved in one-direction, 4

and stop means on said ledges forlimiting movement of saidmeans in a direction away from the adjacent roller.

17. In a device of the character described,

a casing having an open bottom, transverse rollers journaled in the casing, an endless belt trained aboutsaid rollers and having its lower stretch projecting beyond the open bottomot the casing, longitudinally extending guide ledges beneath the upper stretch of the belt, and means movably mounted along said guideledges and cooperating with the upper stretch of the belt and one roller for preventing rotation of the rollers and movement of the belt when the device is moved in one direction, said means comprising a wedge having its tapered end disposed toward the adjacent roller, said wedge having its major portion located above and upon the ledges andhaving a combined guide and retaining portion located beneath the ledges. i

18. In a device of the character described, a casing, rollers ournaled within the casing` an endless belt trained about the rollers and having its lower stretch projecting bevond the bottom of the casing. a portion ofthe .space above the upper stretch of the belt serving-,as a compartment for the reception of floor waX. and means resting upon the upper stretch of the belt and overlyingl the edges thereof for preventing'the wax from passing over and bevond said edges. i

19. In a device of the characterdescribed. a casing, rollers journaledwithin the casing. an endless belt trained about the rollers and having its lower stretch projecting bevond the bottom of the casing. a portion of the space above the upper stretch of thev belt serving as a compartment for the reception` oil floor wax. and means resting upon the upper stretch of the beltV and overlying the edges thereoil for preventing the wax trom passing over and beyond said edges, said means 'Eurther including a portion extending transversely of the belt.

20. In a device of the character described. casing having an open bottom, rollers journaled in the casing. a belt trained about the rollers and having its lower stretch projecting beyond said open bottom` guide means within the casing beneath the edges of the-upper stretch ot the belt. a portion of the space aboveftbe upper stretch ot' the belt serving as a storage compartment for loor wax. and a member lying upon and supported by the upper stretch and engaging upon the side edges thereof for preventing the Wax from passing beyond said edges.

2l. In a device of the character described, a easing having an open bottom, rollers journaled in the easing, a belt trained about the rollers and having its lower stretch'projecb y ing beyond vsaid open bottom, guide means within the casing beneath the edges of the up- O per stretch of the belt, a portion of the space above the upper stretch of thebelt serving as a storage compartment for floor Wax, and a member lying upon and supported by the upper stretch and engaging upon the side edges thereof for preventing the Wax from Y HENRY c. DORNHEGKER. 

